- John William Polidori's The Vampyre, the first mainstream vampire book. If you can't obtain a copy, find an online version at Project Gutenberg.
- Bram Stoker's Dracula. This should be readily available in a secondhand book store, but if not, you can read it online at Project Gutenberg. Further, there are several movies based on the character of Dracula.
- Contemporary vampire stories. There are thousands of vampire-themed books, comics, and graphic novels available to suit every taste.[1] Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles are two well-known modern series, but a quick online search will point you in the direction of many more. Reading books from different decades of the last century would also give you a good idea of how the vampire genre has evolved over time.
- Several modern network TV shows have featured vampires, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and The Vampire Diaries.
- Read information gathered about vampire lore, as well as data collected on allegedly "real" vampires. These figures, whose ritualistic crimes or abnormal behavior inspire fear among their communities, crop up regularly throughout history. Some people today still believe that vampires are real and walk among us [2]; others believe in them more figuratively as people with "low pranic energy" who drain the lifeforce from others.[3] Seeing the vampire as a historical figure will help you understand why this mythical being still has the power to thrill. Moreover, it will enable serious enthusiasts to better respond to their critics.Dr. Elizabeth Miller is considered to be a foremost expert on Dracula,[4], and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry has a number of articles on vampires.[5]
(2) Choose a style. Now that you've brushed up on your vampire mythology, develop your own interpretation of what acting like a vampire means. Are you a claw-curling Nosferatu, punk-rock Spike, smooth-talking Dracula, or butt-kicking Selene? There are several different degrees of vampire; find the one you like best. If you're making vampirism a lifestyle choice, consider easing the transition by simply becoming the vamp version of your authentic self.
- Being a lover of the night, less enamored of the daylight. May even detest sunshine, being highly photo-sensitive and prone to sunburn. Enjoy your nighttime more than your day.
- Good overall and night vision. You might need technical help here to avoid stumbling around outdoors on a moonless night, but if you're the type who can keep reading when everyone else is complaining it's too dark, this is a vampiric trait.[6]
- Intense narcissistic, prone to dominate the limelight.[7] To call someone a vampire in our daily lives often refers to a person's proclivity to "drain energy" from us. People with a natural tendency to this type of "dark energy" tend to be drawn to vampires who easily represent a side of their personality to which they can instantly relate. If you're not naturally brooding, attention-seeking, and intense, it's not advised to change your personality; these traits do wear most people down and tend to lose you friends. If you want to practice this style of behavior, keep it in moderation.
- Alternatively, a vampire can be withdrawn, sullen, demure, and silent when their energy is spent and they need to "recharge". In this case, seek refuge until your energy is restored.
- Special ability to heal well.[8] Do your bruises, cuts and scrapes clear up quickly? If not, stick covering makeup over them.
- Unable to maintain long-term stable relationships with most people, although may hold a deep longing for one particular person who may be deceased already (although not necessarily so). Do you have a special person you're pining for? Or, perhaps there's a historical character you can pin your undying, centuries-old love to, and raise him or her as a topic of conversation now and then.
- Soul-piercing gaze. A vampire may seem to look right through you, right into your soul, or perhaps they don't even see you at all but are focused on some other dimension entirely. Try not to spook people out when attempting this; equally, don't be surprised if people consider you to be "off with the fairies" rather than perceptive; it's a hard look to pull off without annoying people.
- Glowing, luminous skin. To achieve this, try to stay out of the sun, use sunscreen religiously, and dust your face with a light finishing powder in your skin tone. Vampire skin may appear flushed after consuming food, especially meat products.
- Condescension toward people they assess as "fools"; vampires consider themselves highly intelligent and respect intelligence in return. If you want to attract intelligent people, be intelligent.
- A serious disposition. Reserve your smiles for moments of real joy and hilarity, not for commonplace happenings.
- A low speaking voice, that is perhaps husky, seductive, or sensual. Listen to actors who played vampires in some of the older movies to get a good idea of the voice style.
(4) Dress like a vampire. Vampire clothing varies depending on the era of vampire that you're emulating, but there are some commonalities on the whole: the clothing is of generally good quality; it tends to be dark (often black), with some color relief (often red, white, or gray); it is often sexy, maybe burlesque, or at the very least, shows the body off to its best advantage; and it is flexible enough to allow for stealthy night movements. A large cape is a traditional vampiric item of clothing, although more modern vampires seem to have lost this typical style; despite this, the cape is a "must-have" for fancy dress or dramatic moments when acting.
- Use white or very light make-up across your face to make it pale.
- Wear slightly dark make-up under and around your eyes. Wear enough to look sultry and mysterious, but not so much that you look like you just lost a fight. If your school or workplace frowns on heavy make-up, reserve this look for evenings, weekends, and vacations. Always remove make-up before sleep; your skin needs to breathe.
- If you want to be a Twilight-style vampire, consider adding glitter to your skin to imitate the way Edward Cullen's skin "sparkles" in direct sunlight.
- Find some good-quality, fake fangs to insert if you don't already have a nice set of pointy teeth. This is optional if you're adopting a vampire style long-term, but probably essential for costume events. Try to buy fangs that look realistic and avoid adhesive sets (custom-fit fangs are cheaper in the long run). Vampfangs.com is one of the best places for this.
- Consider wearing differently colored contacts if you want a different look for your eyes. For instance, the vampires in Twilight are said to have golden eyes; others traditionally have red or black irises.
- Some people go to the trouble of having their teeth filed down to sharp points. This is a drastic and irreversible measure; as such, it's not to be done lightly.
- Find a plastic bat to attach to the back of your cape.
